SS15 wildlife watching: Trip away from SS15 – Essex, Sussex, Suffolk, Wales and Somerset

On 5th May 2024, I visited the following sites:

It proved to an extremely cold night sleeping in the car at RWT Gilfach and I was awake before 5 a.m. for International Dawn Chorus Day.

Normally, I visit my local patch site around St. Nicholas Church on International Dawn Chorus Day so experiencing it at a wonderful upland location in Wales was amazing!

RWT Gilfach is located just 4 miles north of Rhayader. For centuries, it was a working hill farm but now it is a spectacular nature reserve tucked away in the Marteg valley in the heart of rural mid-Wales. The old farm buildings are used as visitor facilities and a series of way-marked trails provide access to the woodlands, rough grazing areas and heather moorland. A hide close to the reserve entrance overlooks the River Marteg.

RWT Gilfach is another of my favourite sites in Wales for its beautiful scenery and excellent wildlife and it is now always included on my trip itineraries.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Dipper (1 seen briefly from the hide as it flew through along the river), Common Redstart (5 singing males and another singing male heard), Pied Flycatcher (2 males and 1 female), Tree Pipit (4), Common Whitethroat (1 singing male), Garden Warbler (1 singing male), Willow Warbler (3 singing males and 6 other singing males heard), Chiffchaff (2 singing male plus 4 other singing males heard), Blackcap (1 singing male plus 2 other singing males heard), Cuckoo (2 or 3 calling males), Bullfinch (2), Nuthatch (5), Goldcrest (1 singing male), Mistle Thrush (1), Swallow (1), Red Kite (1), Raven (2), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 plus another calling bird heard), Mallard (1 male), Brown Hare (1), Grey Squirrel (4)

Additions to 2024 UK year list: Dipper, Raven

Here are some photos from my visit ....

Photo: sunrise at RWT Gilfach

Photo: entrance to RWT Gilfach

Photo: RWT Gilfach

After spending several hours at RWT Gilfach, I drove back to Rhayader and then 3.5 miles south to Elan village.

RSPB Carngafallt, another site regularly included on my trip itineraries, is accessed from Elan village and primarily comprises oak woodland with many ancient trees plus wood pasture and its special birds can easily be heard and seen by just walking along the road and then following the off-road trail back down in to Elan Village.

I saw and/or heard the usual expected range of species but for the first time in several years I failed to see or even hear any singing male Wood Warblers.

The highlights from my visit included the following (heard only records in italics): Common Redstart (1 singing male and 4 other singing males heard), Pied Flycatcher (1 pair, plus 2 other males and another singing male heard), Willow Warbler (1 singing male), Blackcap (2 singing males), Chiffchaff (1 singing male), Treecreeper (3), Nuthatch (1 plus another calling bird heard), Goldcrest (1 singing male), Stock Dove (2 plus 2 other calling males heard), Mistle Thrush (1), Great Spotted Woodpecker (2 calling birds)

Addition to 2024 UK year list: Treecreeper

Walking back through Elan Village and along the River Wye to where I had parked my car provided the following additional records: Red Kite (1), Common Redstart (2 males and another singing male), Cuckoo (1 calling male), Grey Wagtail (1), Lesser Redpoll (2)

After finishing my walk at RSPB Carngafallt, I drove 60 miles south to Travelodge Swansea M4 and, after checking in, I moved on to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff for my 6th Bruce Springsteen concert which was completely amazing! .... Bruce Springsteen's Cardiff gig starts European leg of tour - BBC News